Library of Religious Biography Series: Blaise Pascal

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Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a mathematician, physicist, inventor, and religious thinker who stood apart from his contemporaries. While the Enlightenment fostered a belief in the discoverability and rationality of the universe, Pascal expressed skepticism. In his Pensees, he articulated a sense of dread about the vast, mysterious cosmos, suggesting that reason alone could not unveil the divine. The latest addition to Eerdmans' LIBRARY OF RELIGIOUS BIOGRAPHY series chronicles Pascal's life, drawing from published sources and his own writings. Marvin O'Connell eloquently explores Pascal's world, highlighting the passion that fueled him and the radical spirituality he sought. The biography also sheds light on the social, political, and religious dynamics of seventeenth-century Paris, particularly the intense rivalry between the Jesuits and Jansenists, the latter of whom Pascal supported. Written in an engaging style, this meticulously researched work invites readers to discover the life and thoughts of Pascal, a remarkable figure and profound Christian thinker.